Aircraft



Sept. 8, 1931; A. CADORET AIRCRAFT Filed May 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l amw/wto c Uadorei;

Sept/8, 1931.

L. CADORET AIRCRAFT Filed May 12, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 anew Sept. 8, 1931. A. CADORET AIRCRAFT Filed May 12, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 swvewboz 1: J7. Catdaf'eli Vela anowup Patented Sept. 8, 1931 I 476 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS ALEXANDRE CADORET, F PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND AIRCRAFT Application filed'May 12, 1980. Serial No. 451,674.

This application is a continuation in part above explained interchange and spotting of of my prior U. S. application Serial No. motors. Turning of the turntable less than 427,807, filed February 12, 1930, and allowed one-half revolution, necessarily moves the May 11, 1931. Both said prior application motors so thatthe propellers operatein planes and the present application relate to aircraft Oblique to the length ofthe craft, and it is in general, whether of a lighter than air or a further aim to provide novel means whereby a heavier than air type, and the invention Said'motors and propellers may be restored aims to provide a craft particularly adapted to positions in which the propellers operate for long continuous flights. When making 111 planes at right angles to the length of the to such flights, motor failure is often a severe ship. This same provision however, may be handicap and equally often disastrous, and utilized for setting the propellers in oblique aircraft of today have no adequate provision planes if it is necessary to combat port or allowing the motors to receive prop-er attenstarboard winds. tion while in flight and hence averting motor Yet another object is to make novel pro- '5 trouble. Moreover, in case of one or more vision allowing the propeller-carrying n10- motors being disabled, there is no adequate tors to be tilted to assist in ascending or deprovision for allowing them to be recondiscending whenever desired. tioned and hence the craft must proceed, if With the foregoing in view, the invention at all, with diminished power. resides in the novel subject matter herein- My invention aims to overcome such difiiafter described and claimed, description beculties as those above stated, by making novel ing accomplished by reference to the accomprovision whereby some of the motors are idle panying drawings. and at the interior of a windshield in posi- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional tion to receive attention, while the others are View through the front portion of an aircraft at the exterior of said windshield and operembodying my invention. atin g, and whereby one or more of the previ- F igs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sectional views ously idle motors may be interchanged at will on the correspondingly numbered lines of with one or more of those which have been Fig. 1. operating, thereby disposing the latter in po- Fig. 4 isa detail elevation illustrating the 39 sition to receive any necessary attention, such manner in which the propeller-carrying mo- 30 as lubrication or oil changing, adjustment, tors may be tilted. spark plug cleaning, valve grinding, etc. In the present disclosure, the invention is Hence, all of the motors may in agreat-majorshown in connection with anaircraft which I ity of cases be kept in etlicient condition, and embodies a hull 7 and a cabin 8, and while moreover, if any should require repairs, such the invention is shown at the front end of repairs may be made under convenient cirthis cabin, it will be understood that it may cumstances while the ship is in flight. be used at any desired location or locations.

A still further object of the inventionis to The front wall of the cabin 8, constitutes the provide means for moving a previously opwindshield hereinbefore mentioned, but a crating motor from the exterior of the windsuitable shield could of course be provided in 9' shield to the interior thereof, for simultane any other adequate way. i ously moving a previously idle motor from A base 9 is secured by bolts or the like 10 the interior of said windshield to its exterior, to the deck frame of the hull. 7, said plate and for spotting each motor at the position being provided with a bearing socket 11in previously occupied by the other. which a vertical-axis trunnion 12 is rotatably In the preferred construction, the motors mounted in any preferred manner. Secured are mounted on a turntable extending partly upon this trunnionby bolts or the like 13,

to the interior and partly to the exterior of is a turntable 14 mounted within the front the windshield and hence turning of said portion of the cabin '8. Any desired number turntable one-half revolution, will effect the of shafts 15 extend diametrically ofthe turntil table 1e and are rockably mounted in appropriate bearings 16 carried by said turntable. The outer ends of these shafts 15 are provided with bearings 17 whose axes are normally disposed vertically. Rotatably mounted in these bearings 17 are short vertical shafts 18 whose upper ends are provided with supports 19 upon which motors 20 are mounted, said motors being provided with appropriate propellers 21. Individual gas tanks 22 are shown for the various motors and any desired provision may be made for controlling the feeding of fuel to said motors and for also controlling the ignition circuits thereof. The lower ends of the shafts 18 are provided with pinions 23 having alternate toothed portions 2 1 and tooth-free portions 25.

Co-operable with the pinions 23 is a large gear 26 which is mounted co-axially with the turntable 14, said gear being provided with alternate toothed portions 21' and tootlrfree portions 28 which are cooperable with the corresponding portions of the pinions 23. In the present showing, appropriate bearing means 29 (Fig. 1) supportthe gear in con centric relation with the turntable 1 1, and additional bearing means 30 are interposed between said gear and turntable. Provision is made for rotating the gear 26 and I also provide means for connecting this gear with the turntable 14. Then too, I provide means for locking the turntable against rotation whenever desired. When the gear 26 and turntable are connected with each other, driving of said gear will also drive said turntable, thereby moving all of the motors 20 about a circular path, but when the turntable is held against rotation, the gear 26 is disconnected from said turntable, and this gear driven, its teeth will co-operate with the teeth of the pinions 23 to turn the motors 20 upon the shafts 18 as pivots. Then too, suitable provision 31 is made for turning the shafts 15, and when the tooth-free portions 25 of the pinions 23 are in contact with the similar portions 28 of the gear 26, said shafts may be turned to tilt the motors 21 as shown in Fi 4, to assist in ascending or descending.

in the present disclosure, a pinion is secured to a shaft 33 which may be rotated by any desired means such as an electricmotor 3 1:, said pinion meshing with an annular series teeth 35 on the gear 26, so that this gear may be turned in one direction or the other. For connecting this gear 26 with the turntable l t to turn the latter, I have illustrated a vertically shiftable clutch member si'lrrouni'lin the trunnion 12 and having teeth 3? at its up per end for engagement with similar teeth at the lower side of said turntable. The periphery of the clutch member 38 is provided with a continuous groove 38 receiving studs 39 on a U-shaped yoke 40, said yoke being cured to a rock shaft all. This rock shaft is provided with a hand lover 4-2 or with other suitable means whereby it may be turned to either engage the clutch member 36 with the turntable 14 or to disengage said clutch member from said turntable. The clutch mem her is slidably keyed or splined to the gear 26 as indicated at 43.

F or holding the turntable 14 against fun thcr movement after turning thereof, a locking rod 1a is shown engageable with any of a plurality of sockets in the periphery of the trunnion 12, one of said sockets being illustrated at 4.5 in Fig. 1.

Substantially three-quarters of the circumference of the turntable unit above described, projects through a slot 46 in the cabin 8 while the rci'nainder of said unit is then within a portion 0 i. said cabin which 1 term a mechanical room. Vv hen four motors are employed as in the present showing three oi these mo tors will normally be at the exterior of the cabin as shown in Fig. 2, whereas the fourth will be within the cabin in position to receive attention. The opposed sides oi: this cabin are provided with doorways 4? through which the motors and propellers may move when the turntable is rotated, and sliding doors 18 may be employed to normally close said doorways d7. Also, the turntable 1 1 may be provided with an upstanding flange 9 whichsubstantially closes at least the upper portion of the slot 46 to prevent inrush of air.

Assuming that the motors at the exterior of the cabin have been operating for a long period of time and one of them requires attcir tion, it is an easy matter to bring this inotor into the cabin to receive such attention WVhen this is to be done, clutch member 35) is ngaged with the turntable l l as shown in l? 1, the locking rod a l is released from the socket 15, and the motor 84L is d ri You This causes the pinion 32 and the gear teeth 35 to drive the gear 26 and the latter, throi l the instrumentality of the clutch member (it drives the turntable 14 to the required ex tent. l lhcn this extent has been reached. clutch member 86 is disengz god from the turntable 14 and the latter is again locked by projection of the rod as into a sec (at 478. The gear 26 may now be further rotated to cause its toothed. portions 2"? to co act with the similar portions 2 1 of the pinions 23, thereby allowing the meters 20 and the propellers 11. to be turned upon the shafts 18 to caus f propellers to operate in the desired planes, either at right angles to the length of the craft or somewhat oblique to such length if it be necessary to combat lateral winds.

Normally, toothfree portions of the pinions 23 contact with similar portions of the gear 26 as shown in Fig. 3. nice, at any time, the motors and propellers may be tilted as indicated in Fig, l, by operating the prese'i'it'disclosure means" 81, to assist in ascending 'ordescend- Attention is inv ited o the fact'tliat the ,s'foi lustratijvepurposes. Moreover, While only -o11eunit of the invention has been illustrated, it is to be understood that a plurality of such units may be employed at any desired locations, and Whenever makin an adjustment of one unit, it is preferable to stop the motors thereof, the motors of the other unit or units however, then continuing to operate so that there will be no appreciable effect on the speed of the craft.

I claim 1. In an aircraft having a Windshield, a plurality of propeller-driving motors, part of said plurality being disposed externally of said shield for craft-propulsion and the remainder of said plurality being disposed at the inner side of said shield in position to receive attention, individual supports carrying said motors, master supporting means upon Which said individual supports are i mounted on vertical axes, means for moving said master supporting means to move at least one of said motors from the exterior of said shield to the inner side of the latter and to simultaneously move another of said motors from said inner side of the shield to said exterior thereof, and means for turning said individual supports about their vertical axes to properly set the active motors for craftpropulsion after moving said master supporting means.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1; together with means embodied in said master supporting means for moving said individual supports about horizontal axes When desired.

3, In an aircraft having a Windshield, a turntable disposed partly at the exterior and partly at the inner side of said shield, a plurality of individual motor supports spaced apart circumferentially of said turntable, means mounting said supports on said turntable upon vertical axes, a plurality of propeller-driving motors mounted on said sup ports, part of said plurality of motors being disposed externally of said shield and the remainder of said plurality of motors being disposed at the inner side of said shield in position to receive attention, means for turning said turntable to move at least one of said motors from the exterior of said shield to the inner side of the latter and to simultaneously move another of said motors from mounted on" theends' of said'r'o'ck shafts upon vertical axes, -'a plurality of propeller-driving motors inounted' onsaid supports, means for turning said turntable to dispose part of said plurality of motors at craft propulsion positionand tlie remainder ofsaid plurality in position to receive attention, means i for turni'ng -sa id 'supports about their vertical axes, and means for turning saidrock shafts.

5. In anaircraft; a. turntable, a plurality of motorsupports spaced apart 'circumferentiall-y of said turntablean'd mounted upon the'la tter on vertical axes, saidsu'pports having co-axial with said turntable "and engaging said pinions, means for driving said turntable and said gear, and means 'for locking said turntable.

6. Inan aircraft, a turntable, aplurality of motor supports-spaced apart circumferentially of said turntable and mounted upon the latter on vertical axes,s'aidsupports having pinions concentric with their axes, agear co-axial With said turntable and engaging said pinions;releasable means for either con-- necting said: gear and turntable-for 'rot'ation in unison 1 or "for disconnecting them, releasable means for locking-said turntable, and means for drivingsaid gear when saidturntable and gear are connected or when "said turntable :and gear are disconnected and the former locked.

7. In an aircraft, a turntable, bearings spaced apart circumferentially 0f said turntable and '-mounted thereon on axes ex'tend ing radially thereof, a plurality of motor supportscarried by said bearings and mounted on vertical axes, said motor supports each "having a pinion co-'axial therewith and form ed avith'altei nate toothed and tooth-free portions, a gear co-axial with said turntable and having alternate toothed and tooth-free portions for engagement With the corresponding portionsof said ,pinions,'means for turning said turntable and said gear, means for locking said turntable, and means for turningsaid bearings about said radial axes thereof when the tooth-free portions of said pinions are in contact with the corresponding jportions of said gear. I

8. In an aircraft having a windshield, a motor positioned at the outer side of said shield for craft propulsion, a second mot-or positionedat the inner sideof said shield to receive attention, and means for simultaneously moving the "two mot'ors on *diilerent paths and spotting e'achat'the position previously occu ied by the other.

'9. In an aircraft having an enclosure, a "p'ropeller-driving motor at the exterior of said enclosure, a second rpropeller driving motor Within "said enclosure, and 111021 s *for simultaneously moving the tWO nidtors on difierent paths and spottingeach-atthe posi- =tion previously occupied 'by the other.

pinions concentric with'th'eir a'xes, a gear 10. In an aircraft having a windshield, a to the inner side of the shield and to simulmotor positioned at the outer slde of said taneously prO ect at least one other motor shield for craft propulsion, a second motor to the exterior of said shleld.

positioned at the inner side of said shield to receive attention, and a movably mounted carrier for the two motors operable to simultaneously move said motors on difierent paths and spot each at the position previously occupied by the other.

11. In an aircraft having a Windshield, a motor positioned at the outer side of said shield for craft propulsion, a second motor positioned at the inner side of said shield to receive attention, and a turntable upon which said motors are mounted, whereby their positions may be interchanged at will.

12. In an aircraft having an enclosure, a propeller driving motor at the exterior of said enclosure, a second propeller driving motor Within said enclosure, and a turntable upon which said motors are mounted where by their positions may be interchanged at will.

13. In an aircraft having a windshield, a plurality of propeller-driving motors, part of said plurality being disposed externally of said shield at craft-propulsion position and the remainder of said plurality being disposed at the inner side of said shield in position to receive attention, and means un der a single control for simultaneously shifting the positions of said motors with respect to said shield to retract at least one motor to the inner side of the shield and to project at least one other motor to the exterior of the shield.

In an aircraft having a windshield, a plurality of propeller-driving motors, and a turntable upon which said motors are mounted, said turntable projecting beyond opposite sides of said shield, whereby part of said plurality of motors may be positioned at the exterior of said shield for craft propulsion and the remainder at the inner side of said shield in position to receive attention.

15. In an aircraft having an enclosure, a turntable mounted to extend partially into said enclosure and partially to the exterior thereof, and a plurality of propeller-driving motors mounted on said turntable, whereby part of said plurality may be disposed at the exterior of the enclosure for craft propulsion and the remainder disposed within said enclosure.

l6. In an aircraft having a windshield, a plurality of propeller-driving motors, part of said plurality being disposed externally of said shield at craft-propulsion position, and the remainder of said plurality being disposed at the inner side of said shield in position to receive attention, and means mounting said motors and connecting them for si multaneous movement, whereby said motors may be shifted to retract at least one motor In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS ALEXANDRE OADORET. 

